Bookmark

ABSTRACT

A bookmark for use in indicating a line, column and page in an open book has a thin, flat, rectangular body ( 10 ) over which an encircling indicator ( 12 ) or indicators can move. The cuts defining the restraining part of each indicator have inwardly curving portions at their ends providing a degree of friction to temporarily restrain each indicator in position.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a bookmark for use principally in indicating aplace in a book. The word “book” is to be construed broadly as includingmagazines, manuscripts, a pile of papers, cards etc.

PRIOR ART

Conventional bookmarks can be strips of paper, sometimes heavy paper andsometimes bearing a message of some sort. Alternatively they can be offlexible leather or cloth or plastics material.

Whatever material they are constructed from, known bookmarks merelyindicate that the reader's place in a book is selected from some placeon either page. It would be desirable if the bookmark indicated therelevant page and the relevant line or line number.

A number of bookmarks have attempted to incorporate line locatingdevices. Thus U.S. Pat. No. 727,572 Bauer discloses a bookmark having asubstantially T-shaped body which incorporates a hook-like head toengage a page. The T-shaped body is attached to a stem upon which ashield is mounted. The upper straight side of the shield is used to markthe line desired.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,630,777 Johnson discloses a bookmark having twolongitudinal slits therein. A tab is provided adjacent one end of thebookmark to engage a page of a book.

A horizontally slitted indicator piece is provided which engages the twoslits. The indicator piece can be used to point to a particular word orline.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,137,268 Sager discloses a relatively complex bookmarkwhich has a head portion having a base portion connected to a guidestrip.

The head portion has projecting means connected with the base portionand tab means hingedly connected with said base for receiving the marginof a page.

A line locating member formed of flat, flexible material is providedwith parallel slots which co-operate with the base portion.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,901,665 Carlin discloses a bookmark that locates a line,column and page in an open book having two or one column pages. Thebookmark body is encircled with a slide with an index line. This indexline can be moved by means of the slide to mark the line of a column.The bookmark body is provided on one side with two sets of indicia, thusL l (left page left column) and R l (right page left column). Theopposite side is furnished with opposite indicia, thus R r and L r. Thisis a somewhat specialised solution to a particular problem.

U.S. Pat. Des. No. 170,467 Kolmin discloses a bookmark having two endsjoined by a relatively elongate body. An elongated tab is shown. Aslider is shown which only partially encircles the elongate body of thebookmark.

U.S. Pat. Des. No. 362,016 Faulkingham discloses a bookmark wherein aslider moves along two elongate slits formed in the body of thebookmark.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a bookmark which not only indicates thelast page read but also provides an indicator or indicators directingthe reader to a particular point or points in the text.

A principal object of the invention is the provision of a bookmarkwherein the indicator is protected against movement as a consequence ofjarring of a book in which the bookmark is located. It provides asimplified solution to this problem as well as stabilising the bookmarkitself with respect to a book.

Accordingly this invention provides a bookmark for use with a book, saidbookmark comprising:

a thin, flat, rectangular body having two long and two short edges;

an indicator or indicators each comprising a thin, flat collar infrictional contact with the rectangular body wherein the indicator orindicators are moveable up and down the rectangular body to direct theattention of a reader to a particular point or points in a text; and

a thin, flat, rectangular tab formed by two parallel cuts and a lowercut displaceable out of the rectangular body in such a region that thebookmark may be restrained by hooking it over the top of a page,

wherein the or each indicator is formed by cutting or punching blanksfrom sheets of material, each blank having two, parallel cuts of such alength that the rectangular body may be interlaced with the indicator orindicators and wherein each of the two parallel cuts curve inwardly fora short distance near their ends thus forming bearing surfaces uponwhich the long edges of the rectangular body impinge.

The function of the curved portions of the parallel cuts is to providestability to the indicator by means of friction between the thin, flat,rectangular body and the indicator or indicators.

The parallel cuts forming the two sides of the tab desirably also curveinwardly near their ends so that the bookmark rests firmly on the pageselected.

The bookmark may be constructed from a flexible, durable card materialbut is desirably constructed from a flexible, durable plastics material.If constructed from plastics material, it is desirably transparent ordiaphanous.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention. Like referencenumerals indicate like parts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the front of the device illustrating anadjustable indicator in position on the body of the bookmark.

FIG. 1.A. is an enlarged detail of one side of the adjustable indicatoras it engages the body of the bookmark.

FIG. 2. is an elevational view of the bookmark as it engages a book.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In FIG. 1. a generally rectangular bookmark 10 is shown provided with atab 11 cut or punched out of the general body of the bookmark 10.

An indicator 12 is shown encircling the bookmark 10 and which may bemade out of the same material as the remainder of bookmark 10. Theindicator is provided with two cuts or punched lines 13 and 14 so thatthe indicator may travel along the body of bookmark 10 when pushed witha finger. Numerals 15 and 16 indicate elongate edges of bookmark 10which position indicator 12 at some desired point.

Turning to FIG. 1A., cut or punched line 13 is shown as ending in curvedportion 17A and cut or punched line 14 is shown as ending in curvedportion 17B.

Numeral 18 indicates a portion of elongate edge 16 of bookmark 10.Curved portions 17A and 17B compress edge portion 18 as do therespective curved portions on the other side of the indicator portion(not shown). This slight compression increases position between the bodyof the bookmark and the indicator and protects the indicator fromunwanted motion up and down the body of the bookmark.

FIG. 2. illustrates the use of bookmark 10 with respect to book 20 and aparticular page 21. In this case the movable means 22 is provided withan arrowhead 23 for greater convenience in pointing to a desired line inpage 21.

1. A bookmark for use with a book, said bookmark comprising: a thin,flat, rectangular body having two long and two short edges; an indicatoror indicators each comprising a thin, flat collar in frictional contactwith the rectangular body wherein the indicator or indicators aremovable up and down the rectangular body to direct the attention of areader to a particular point or points in a text; and a thin, flat,rectangular tab formed by two parallel cuts and a lower cut displaceableout of the rectangular body in such a region that the bookmark may berestrained by hooking it over the top of a page, wherein the or eachindicator is formed by cutting or punching blanks from sheets ofmaterial, each blank having two, parallel cuts of such a length that therectangular body may be interlaced with the indicator or indicators andwherein each of the two parallel cuts curve inwardly for a shortdistance near their ends thus forming bearing surfaces upon which thelong edges of the rectangular body impinge.
 2. A bookmark as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the parallel cuts forming the two sides of the tab alsocurve inwardly so that the bookmark rests securely on the page selected.